BobBlast 419 - "Watercolor Techniques for a Mostly Acrylic Painter"

Weekly BobBlast Issue 419
Watercolor Techniques for a Mostly Acrylic Painter
Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!
I paint mostly with acrylics. But there are those times when I want to get my watercolors out and just have fun with the lightness and transparency of these paints. This BobBlast is not about how to paint with watercolors… even though you will see me doing a video demo with my Holbein watercolors!
What I really want to tell you is that you can get that look and feel of painting with watercolors AND use your acrylics!
I have heard that thinning down acrylic paints with water can make them "less predictable."
I use Holbein Artist Acrylic Paint (heavy body). This professional paint is loaded with pigment. Thinned with water, they don't break apart. That said, when I want that transparent, light feel to my work, I treat The Holbein acrylic paint as if they are watercolors, using watercolor techniques. The advantage is, when each layer dries, I can continue painting - layering without lifting the paint underneath. It stays because it is acrylic!
Treat your Acrylics like Watercolors
•Work wet into wet
•Add more water… if you are using quality acrylics like Holbein, the paint can take it!
•Use brushes designed to carry more water, like Mops
•No need to gesso the paper!
It doesn't matter what you paint with, as long as it has a voice. A good painting has a voice! Just paint!
Online Workshops - Paint with BOB!!!
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•Paint the Effects of Light - August 6, 2022
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•July 19, 2022
"Gluing a Watercolor Paper Painting onto a Wood Panel"
•August 17, 2022
"Easy Way to Paint the Figure"
•September 13, 2022
"How to Use Burridge’s Goof-Proof Color Wheel"
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Bob's been busy! Lots of new work! And the SOPs are back!
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[@Kennie2Times]

Bob, In my opinion, your bring more value to the art world than any other channel on youtube! your enthusiasm and passion for painting as well as your attitude about making mistakes and breaking the "rules" are just so infectious! Thank you for your vast contribution to the art community!!!

[@RobertBurridge]

Wow - thank you Kenny. I appreciate your very kind words.

[@RobertBurridge]

Kennie - sorry about the mispelling...

[@Kennie2Times]

@@RobertBurridge Not a problem at all! Keeping doing what you do and we will all keep loving every second of it! In a world so full of uncertainty and chaos and greed....what a great treat your channel brings to us all!

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

💯

[@RobertBurridgeBobBlast]

@@Kennie2Times thank you

[@bluewren65]

Think outside the box and our art materials are capable of so much more than we think they are. Wonderful!

[@peggykelbel5336]

Your point about the first layer not lifting when the second layer is applied is a key advantage of acrylic over watercolor. I have not watered down acrylics to see which ones have a transparent quality. This tip is a true gift just at the right time as I have a bunch of first layer starts. Thank you Bob!❤️🎶❤️

[@RobertBurridge]

Have fun with it! Holbein has dots on the label to tell if the paint is transparent or opaque.

[@louiserostas5416]

Thank you Bob a great lesson as always. And you seem so relaxed while painting! You are an inspiration!

[@leigh-annh2544]

Thank you Bob! You inspire me. I am learning to be less afraid to mess up…and that is invaluable.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@adventurebound2923]

youve been my favorite artist to watch for a few years now. ive always been a very detailed artist but ive always wanted to paint more freely like you do, its not easy to let go and make a mess and like you say, loosen up! im working on it and enjoying the exploration. thank you for your happiness and encouragement.

[@RobertBurridge]

Have fun - don't worry about the end result! Just go in with an exploration attitude!

[@gregheaney4034]

You’re a champion Bob. You’ve taught me so much. If ever you come to Australia make sure you let us know👍

[@moch.abdulraufkristanto1268]

I like very much your weekly painting content uncle Bob... Always embolden me to keep drawing and keep painting... Thank you for the video.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@ellenvd5543]

Thanks very much Bob for always sharing your videos, every week I am looking forward to it! Much appreciated!

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@joannamccraney3148]

Love learning to do fruit, please do more! What a great concept, adding water. Excellent teacher

[@RobertBurridge]

Thanks Joanna - Glad you are enjoying the BobBlasts!

[@ZarpeParadise]

Thank you Bob for this fun exploration using acrylic like watercolor! 💖💕

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@jenfleming9384]

Absolutely beautiful Bob. Great teaching vid. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to get out and try it.

[@VP47212]

WOW your great 👍 you really helped me with watercolor 😊

[@johnkitching6293]

Bob. Fantastic video I adore your loose way you work. And looks like so much fun

[@RobertBurridge]

Thanks John! It IS fun!

[@paulsheldon9510]

Beautiful as always! Two pears at once! Absolute genius!

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you Paul! I appreciated your email too. Very kind.

[@lesleybthedapperkiwi]

Thank you for sharing - I’m switching between watercolour and acrylic at the moment - ‘love to paint’👏👏👌

[@RobertBurridge]

Perfect!

[@esraazarafty8870]

Your style is really unique and crazy pretty ⚜ i'm from egypt and i hope to see your paintings in reality

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

Love Bobs BLASTS 📣 ❤🎨 😊 Love the old school repurposed ice cube tray! Brilliant idea 💡 😊

[@luvurobert]

Love the alcohol spray technique! Will have to try that one. Thanks, Bob!

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@scleo1959]

Awe, you have some paint on your upper lip!😊 Love all your teachings and your paintings are beautiful!!

[@majrminer]

Dude I like this guy! Bob you're great man. Thank you for sharing your expertise for us newbies. I've only seen a couple of your videos, but love em. New subscriber. Quality over quantity!!

[@RobertBurridge]

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the BobBlasts!

[@majrminer]

​@@RobertBurridge looking forward to going through your video library here. Quick question... I can watercolor and understand the concepts, but I want to let go of the control. That's why I'm looking at acrylic as watercolor too. Any quick tips to let go of that control? Beginner-intermediate experience with watercolor. Looking for more expression. Thanks!

[@RobertBurridge]

@@majrminer Practice practice practice! Whenever one of my students show me a painting that they are happy with - I tell them to do it 99 more times. One of my teachers in Art College told me that!

[@andreaharley4047]

Thankyou my favourite artist. Love you and your art work.🙂

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@ginawood5991]

Thank you so much Bob! I am teaching this at a women’s shelter.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you for teaching, Gina.

[@DarrenPeet]

Always inspiring and uplifting, thank you.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@chayapellin8992]

Wonderful uplifting....big fan ❤

[@georgekatzenberger2144]

It’s in older but you are still one of my favs

[@heathernash1278]

Mind. Blown. Thank you 💜

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@dianetullio.art.]

Thank you for this!

[@Theclarabelle1]

Thank you so much Bob! GREAT TUTORIAL!!!!

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@belloahmed4219]

Awesome! Thanks

[@iwonder-t1r]

Mind blown! Awesome!

[@bobburridge4696]

Thank you!

[@adrianaalmanza]

Great video thank you sir !!

[@franciscocastro7916]

Love your videos. Greetings from Madrid,Spain.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you!

[@chrissy1310]

Hello sir! I just had a painting that looked so dull to me. It needed something. So I made a real thin wash of yellow and put it all over everything, even some of the sky. Beautiful! I also wanted to see if Elmers glue would make a tree crackle, like it does when painting wood, but it did nothing. I covered the whole canvas with it, why not crackle everything LOL What did happen, was I had a barrier between the original painting and the new colors. Pretty cool! I am wondering if that is a thing that is taught? Love the colors you were using and the alcohol trick! Thank you! Hello from Vermont

[@bobburridge4696]

Hi Chrissy - Thanks for your message. I don't do this technique you have described - so I am not a good person to ask!

[@shushu7574]

Wonderful idea!

[@avaangel433]

Is Bob ok? I ask out of sincere concern. He seems off. I hope all is well.

[@Heidi.M]

Pretty sure he’s doing more than okay in this episode!

[@fiddler1252]

I thought so too. Hope that all is well, Bob.

[@davidrodrigues2300]

I've also noticed this in some recent videos as well.

[@andreaharley4047]

I have thought the same i dearly hope he is well and okay.x

[@RobertBurridgeBobBlast]

@@andreaharley4047 thank you. Some days are better than others .. I’m doing great everyday.

[@ZadenZane]

I've got Holbein and Turner acrylic gouaches (wouldn't bother with ordinary gouache) they're lovely paints but there's far too many nonlightfast colours in both brands. For example orange PO13 (normally only found in bargain brands and craft paints) instead of far more permanent (but expensive) PO73. If they're going to charge professional prices they should use professional grade materials, too! The excuse that gouaches are mostly for pictures you're going to photograph doesn't cut it with me. If I wanted no original or a disposable original I'd create art digitally, or use something way cheaper than Holbein Acrylic Gouache!

[@victoria-mennaperez2230]

Thanks for sharing this loosening-up technique. I wonder if this would work well on stretched canvas? I don't see why not.

[@RobertBurridge]

Should absolutely work on a stretched canvas! Thanks for writing.

[@rnkim2564]

I always addressed acrylics like watercolors because I had a strong foundation in WC. I just naturally wanted to see and build transparent layers to describe surface and depth. I'm not sure I ever have a totally opaque painting. it sure adds alot of depth and nuance that you can get in no other way as colors optically blend and intermix. I do this with gessoed canvas, hardly ever just paper... so if you need to thin with airbrush medium or just watered down gloss or matte gel then do it so you don't risk thinning binder too much and peeling and you can get beautiful jewel effects with less expensive paints. the beauty of it is, unlike WC which is quite unforgiving, if I dont like an area, I paint over which white or some base color and I repaint... not that hard to create seem less Fix,s

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you for your thoughts!

[@MarySchiros]

Did you start the demo with actual watercolor paint then add acrylic to it? Just want to understand a little bit better. Thanks the demos are beautiful.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you - the first demo was all watercolor

[@angie9430]

Bob did you say what paper type you used ... the results are fabulous, thank you ! 😊

[@RobertBurridge]

I think I used Fabriano Studio Watercolor Paper Pad - 140 CP

[@farkhondeh57]

🙏 ❤️

[@Collageartist69]

I like the fact that you are from my hometown. Harrisburg, Pa. What High School did you go to?

[@RobertBurridge]

McDevitt. Then I got my degree from the Philadelphia College of Art - now known as the University of the Arts.

[@dawnarobertson9577]

I think an artist wanting archival work would be better off adding clear, acrylic binder/ high flow acrylic medium, rather than water. What paper are you using? I would think it would buckle and deteriorate with all that water.

[@RobertBurridge]

Thank you for your comments Dawna. I normally use 300 lb watercolor paper - Fabriano or Kilimanjaro.

[@ClaytonFTW]

Are you using the arylic-guasch?? Thanks!

[@RobertBurridge]

In this video I mainly used watercolor - and I added white acrylic, making the watercolor opaque.

[@kymberlydawn1445]

What it the paper you are using? Watercolor?

[@RobertBurridge]

Yes - Watercolor Paper. I use watercolor paper for acrylics and watercolor.

[@nurani8407]

😍

[@debraterry7141]

I thought you couldn't add too much water to acrylic or you would have trouble with adhesion

[@RobertBurridge]

Hi Debra - I did address this in the video. The paint that I use - Holbein Artist Acrylic Paint - has a great deal of pigment. The professional brands don't fall apart like the student grade paints.

[@joelhenry4643]

Has he been drinking?

[@s.k.1091]

Wondered myself if there was some pre video fun in the studio on this one

[@barbararivera2380]